EXPLORING EFFECTIVE SYSTEMS RESPONSES TO HOMELESSNESS

PROGRAM AND SERVICE-LEVEL COLLABORATION
• Leadership by the health sector in
coordinating and integrating health
services and working with other partners
around complex housing/health issues.
• Adequate and stable project funding.
• An accountability framework where the
sectors are mutually accountable to one
another, not just to the funder.
• Flexible and creative policy and service
delivery approaches including an
adapted scope of practice specific to
the needs of the chronically homeless
population.
• Adopting a culture of learning whereby
the project partners and stakeholders
build on achieved successes, are not
discouraged by challenges that arise
within a unique partnership structure
and are continuously interlinking their
knowledge and experience gained
around the project into moving the
project forward.
• Significant time commitments on
the part of partners that far exceed initial
expectations.
• Having mental health expertise on site
to facilitate integration and coordination
of services across multiple providers.
• Ensuring staff skills match the project
service approach and client needs, and
providing appropriate levels of staff
training and support.
• Recognizing it takes time to build trust
and relationships with tenants; having
patience with tenants’ progress.
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